Variance sought for urgent care center downtown

An affiliate of Greater Hazleton Health Alliance wants to open an urgent care facility at the West Broad Street Hazleton Shopping Center.

Vanick Properties/Hazleton Professional SVCS seeks Hazleton Zoning Hearing Board's approval for a use variance for operating an urgent care/medical treatment center at Suite 9 at the Hazleton Shopping Center, 550 W. Broad St.

The zoning board will rule on Vanick's request at a hearing on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Vanick Properties, of Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is listed in a zoning application as the property owner while Hazleton Professional Services, of 700 E. Broad St., is the "person applying for business."

Vanick is requesting the use variance, according to a recently published legal notice.

Vanick's initial application was denied by the zoning office because an urgent care/medical treatment center is not a permitted use in a C-H (Commercial Highway) district, according to paperwork filed with the city.

Hazleton Professional Services, doing business as Alliance Medical Group, is an affiliate of Greater Hazleton Health Alliance, according to Jim Edwards, chief executive officer with the health alliance.

While construction schedules and information about staffing haven't been finalized, Edwards said the proposed facility would be a way for the alliance to provide primary care and urgent care services at a convenient location downtown.

"We're excited about it," Edwards said. "I think providing additional services in the city is a good thing and they obviously would be available to anyone in the entire community."

Edwards said the proposed urgent care facility will address a "fair number of patients" who seek treatment at the emergency room at Hazleton General Hospital for "non-emergent" ailments.

The proposed urgent care center will provide a more convenient and cost-effective way to care for patients, which has recently been the focus of health care discussions at the national level, Edwards said.

"It's a big focus area on a national basis - providing care in the most cost-effective manner as possible," he said.

The proposed facility will offer "convenient services and times" for local residents, he said.

James A. Vozar is listed in paperwork as the appellant for Vanick's upcoming zoning hearing.

Hazleton Professional Services is eyeing a vacant suite in the shopping center.

The only other case listed on the zoning hearing agenda includes Yimmi Sanchez's requesting "home occupation" for operating a family day care at 427 W. Maple St., which is in a residential (R-3) zone. Yarisa Lara owns the Maple Street property.

sgalski@standardspeaker.com

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